Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
PAW
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French powe, poe
Date: 14th century
the foot of a quadruped (as a lion or dog) that has claws, a human hand especially when large or clumsy,
II. verb
Date: 15th century
transitive verb to touch or strike at with a paw, to feel or touch clumsily, rudely, or sexually, to scrape or beat with or as if with a hoof, to flail at or grab for wildly, intransitive verb to beat or scrape something with or as if with a hoof, to touch or strike with a paw, to feel or touch someone or something clumsily, rudely, or sexually, to flail or grab wildly, to search especially carelessly or roughly